Strategies for the New Year   “A New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.”  The author is anonymous, but it could have been said by any one of us. How many New Year’s resolutions did you make?  With one week in, how are you doing?  Are you pleased or frustrated?  Are you ready to toss the whole darn resolution thing?   Don’t toss yet!  Make this year different and actually achieve those goals (that’s what resolutions really are) that have been on your horizon for awhile.  Here are some simple steps you can follow which will enable you to realize your resolutions: • Write them down.  This is a must. • Make only 2 or 3 resolutions rather than several.  Pick the top 3 goals that are most important to you at this moment in time.  Narrow your focus to these, rather than giving a little effort to a lot of changes and not accomplishing much. • Give yourself permission to focus only on those top 3 goals.  You don’t have to change everything at once.  Once you have a clear handle on these, you can add another goal. • Align your goals with your values.  It makes them more powerful and you will find it easier to get through the bumps and setbacks along the way. • Think positive.  Remember, you are what you believe, so start believing that you will succeed.  If your inner critic keeps popping in to dump on you, give him or her a swift kick goodbye, and then get back in the groove. • Visualize your success and go to that picture every time the going gets tough. • Keep your resolutions and pictures of success front and center.  Make them your screen saver, post on the refrigerator, take them to the office, etc. • Take one small step at a time.  You won’t lose 20 pounds overnight so focus on 5 at a time.  Instead of going from smoking 2 packs a day, cut down to one pack, then a few cigarettes, and so on. • Then, reward yourself for every step along the way. • Be specific in your goals.  Give yourself a date by which you want to achieve the goal.  This will keep you on task and motivated. • Be patient.  It takes 21 days to form a new habit. • Do not be too hard on yourself.  Everyone makes missteps.  Accept and learn from them, forgive yourself, and move on. • Use the buddy system.  Team up with someone who wants to achieve the same goals.  You are more likely to stick to a program if someone else is counting on you and encouraging you. • Seek professional help if need be. • Keep a journal.  Write about how you are doing and how you are feeling. • Be grateful and articulate a few things every day for which you are thankful. • Recite your mantra daily.  Keep it positive and focused on the results you want to achieve. • Focus on the benefits of the changes you want to make.  How will you feel carrying 20 less pounds of weight, and how much easier will you breathe when you stop smoking?  Make a list of the benefits and put those on your screen saver as well. • Hire a coach to hold you accountable.  Yes, you can count on me.  What would you like to achieve?  E-mail me:  drszh@7steps2abalancedlife.com  • In the ANNOUCEMENTS section you will find a FREE gift for all my newsletter subscribers to help you get your year in gear and your goals in sight.   Toss in these tips to turbo charge your 2006.  Don’t let your resolutions go out another year.  You can succeed!  Dream and achieve.  “Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate, cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past – have them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time.  Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts.  Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot this way) but prepare one day at a time. Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing–don’t do it), prayer, meditation, and one well-selected resolution.  Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping capful of good humor.”  Anonymous   Another fresh new year is here….  Another year to live! To banish worry, doubt, and fear,  To love and laugh and give! This bright new year is given me  To live each day with zest To daily grow and try to be  My highest and my best! I have the opportunity  Once more to right some wrongs, To pray for peace, to plant a tree,  And sing more joyful songs!   A New Year by William Arthur Ward I’ll let you in on a little secret.  My New Year resolutions have been the kind that go in one year and out the next (or should I say the next day).  I never took much stock in them and looked at them only as wishful thinking.  I still do.  That’s why I choose to substitute “goals” for “resolutions”.  Goals are a better fit for my left brain way of thinking.  My biggie goal for 2006 is COMPLETION.  I am tired of having five or more different projects going on at once and taking forever to bring them to completion.  I’m tired of shuffling mail and paper from one spot to another and looking at it every day.  I’m tired of having ideas, new programs, new workbooks, new e-courses, and new speaking and writing topics and having them sit in my idea tank.  I’m tired of loose ends.   This is the year of COMPLETION and you, my readers, will reap many of the benefits. Look for new offerings in 2006, new programs, and an expanded website. I’m gearing up for an awesome, mind-boggling year and I am so excited!   Now that I’ve put myself out there you can hold me accountable.  Give me a nudge every once in a while, send me an e-mail and ask how I am progressing, and give me encouragement.  I will appreciate hearing from you.   Have a great week. Stephanie   P.S.  January 10 is my son’s birthday.  John G was born on the coldest day of the year in 1982.  I’ll never forget walking down the three flights of stairs in our apartment all bundled up with a coat and blankets, at 5am in the morning.  St. Louis’ famous blizzard occurred one week after we got home.  Luckily, I wasn’t going anywhere.  John has boundless energy and keeps me on my toes.  He’s been that way since the day he was born.  He is also one of the most well-liked people I know.  I have to tell him to turn off his cell phone when we’re together, otherwise I can never get a word in.  2006 will find him finishing his master’s degree.  All my best, John.   He is shown here with his sister, Valerie, celebrating her birthday last month. 2006 promises to be an exciting year.  As a thank you to all my readers I am giving you the Vision-Dreams-Goals 2006 worksheets that are part of Step 1 in my 7 Steps 2 a Balanced Life program.  All you need to do is click HERE to receive.  If you have trouble receiving the document, send me an email (drszh@7steps2abalancedlife.com) with “send goals worksheets” in the subject line.  May 2006 be an electrifying year for you!